Stoke have sacked manager Gary Rowett, the Sky Bet Championship club have announced.

Rowett took charge of the Potters in the summer but they sit 14th in the table, 8 points off the play-off places and fourteen points behind 2nd placed Norwich.

The Staffordshire club invested heavily in Rowett's squad over the summer, spending over £40million to boost their chances of an immediate return to the Premier League.

However, the former Derby boss recored just nine wins in 29 games in all competitions and Saturday's dissapointing 1-1 draw to League One Shrewsbury in the FA Cup third round proved to be his last game in the Potters dugout.

A statement from Stoke read: "Stoke City have terminated the contract of manager Gary Rowett.

"Members of his immediate coaching staff have also left the bet365 Stadium.

"The club would like to thank Gary and his staff for their efforts over the past eight months.

"A new managerial appointment will be made as swiftly as possible but in the meantime Rory Delap, Kevin Russell and Andy Quy will take charge of first-team affairs."

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is the bookies favorite with one-time England manager Sam Allardyce also mentioned as a possible contender.